Offshore Weather

[haydenj]

I have just started fishing offshore in the past month. My plan is to troll for pelagics and do some deep jigging for kings. In winter I plan to head for Browns after Yellowfin.

To date I have only ventured out in up to a 1.5m swell with a 15knot wind. This seems like pretty reasonable weather for Sydney at this time of year. My boat is 25ft and handles these conditions without to much trouble.

A question..what is the largest swell and wind you would venture to the fads in and what about further out to Browns. Obviously the size of the boat has some bearing on this so could you please tell me what you are in. When you head offshore what time do you plan to exit the heads?

Thanks

HJB

[storms72]

HBJ, many could tell you what and how to do it....Best bet is to get someone experienced out with you to show you the safest and best way to get the most from your boat and the fishing you want to do! Just ask some fellas here I'm sure you will find some who will tag along and give you some great onboard advice!

[mr antenna]

HBJ,We got out to Browns in a 5.2metre Quintrex,on a good day,10 to 15 knt winds,and Swell 1 to 1.5,how ever it can and does change out there,just need the experience of knowing what to do.

[Haji]

HBJ you haven't mentioned whar sort of boat you operate? If it is a 25 Ft Bertram with twin engines or one of the big plate ally boats you should have no problems in going to Browns or beyond even if the sea kicks up. On the other hand if you have a Hartley plywood boat with a shallow V and a small single engine I would think twice before heading out that far on other than a clear day with a favourable forecast for at least the next 48 hours.

I used to own a 26 Ft Savage with twin 225 HP Chrysler inboards. We often went to Browns in that boat as well as travelling to Port Stephens for Game Fishing tournaments. That boat was built like a brick Sh%$#@se (Sh%$#@se) and handled big seas without any vices.

The biggest problem that I am aware of in fishing out wide (apart from running out of fuel) is coming back in a rising sea running before the swells. If your boat tends to broach in a following sea you will endure some very hairy moments in the 1 1/2 to 3 hours that it could take you to get back in to safer waters.

So my advice is to make sure that you know how your boat will perform in a following sea and that you can handle it in those conditions, if possible get someone who has actual experience of fishing wide to go out with you and share their experience with you and finally, make sure that you carry enough fuel to get back.(coming back in deteriorating conditions can use a lot more fuel, particularly if you have to quarter accross the line of the swells to get a better ride which can seriously increase the distance that you have to travel to get home)

And finally there is an old mariners saying worth remembering:

'Red sky in the morning sailors warning, red sky at night sailors delight"

Good Luck

[Dog Catcher]

A question..what is the largest swell and wind you would venture to the fads in and what about further out to Browns

Swell only plays a certain role for example a 5 meter swell can be very safe & fishable under the proviso that the wind does not come up & blow it's arse off that's when you're in trouble.

I've allways said getting out there is the least of your probs, it's the trip home you need to worry about so when heading offshore use common sense.

If you're not expirience or not comfortable with the sea conditions then it's time to head back in irrellevant of the swell size/ wind velocity.

[nimrod]

HBJ. What you really must consider is, at which point in time does it become uncomfortable for you or your crew.
The boat ( pretty well any boat/within reason ( and I am assuming the boat is sea worthy ) ) of that length will handle extreme conditions. You or the crew is a different matter.
Also take into account the type of fishing you want to do.
trolling you can do in just about any conditions as long as the lure stays in the water and doesn't jump from crest to crest.
Jigging however is a form of fishing where you don't want a high wind rate, you are much better off with calm conditions for jigging.
Now before I get jumped on by the guys who have caught fish while jigging in windy conditions, I said you are better off,
In calm..er conditions your jig will vertually go straight down and you will have feel in the line at all times to the jig, with wind the boat drifts too quick and you get a belly in the line which makes jigging very difficult to get the desired action in the jig. If you are anchored securely then the wind does not come into play as much.

Generally white caps start forming at around 15 knotts, This does alter where wind against current for instance and a short chop rather then a long swell, but this post is not long enough to state every aspect.
White caps equalls uncomfortable conditions, so if there are white caps before you go out, dont go out. If you are out there and the caps start happening then it is time to consider packing up and making your way back to shore.
The more experienced you get the better you will be able to predict what the sea is going to do.
But don't ever, and I mean ever, take the sea for granted.
I have been going wide for over 40 years and still sometimes get it wrong.

Hope this has been helpful .
Frank

[haydenj]

Haji....I have a Boston Whaler Conquest, it has a Verado on the back and holds 460litres of fuel. The boat performs well in a following sea.

[nimrod]

HJB. Firstly, Apologies for addressing you by HBJ in my earlier post.
Your boat is more then capable of handling conditions far worse then the 15 knott white cap tollerance spoken about, it still is a factor however with your comfort.
You could probably troll around all day long at 15 or 20 knotts and stay well within your boats capabilities.
It's only a matter of experience as to how rough the conditions have to get before you call it quits.
Anything under 15 knotts would be a walk in the park, how much over that is up to your tollenance and noboby here can tell you what level of comfort you reach before calling it a day.
Your boat could easily handle 45-50 knott winds with 3-4 metre seas, If you can or not is the question.
Frank

[Rokjok777]

You've gotten plenty of good advice already, I'd just add to be sure of your equipment, and your safety equipment. Enough life vests? (you might want to wear two each if you really had to get in the water for any amount of time ) VHFvradio working? are you sure how to use it, and what's the difference between Securite, Panne Panne, and Mayday? What about mobile phone ranges, and what about a 12 volt charger for your mobile? have you got working flares on board? Signalling mirror? strobe lights to attach to life vests? As far as the boat goes, the captain's number one job is to keep the water out, how's your bilge pump working? Have you got a good manual pump too? A few spare buckets for panic bailing? Do you have some pre-made wooden bungs for all your through-hull fittings (in case they fail)? Are they stored near the fittings? What about nice waterproof cases for your batteries? And what if your electrics die, do you have a manual compass? some spare clothing and spare water on board? is your EPIRB up to date, and charged? what about a second anchor & rode (anchors are safety items if your engine ever quits near the rocks). for those planning on doing lots of offshore fishing, a life raft and/or survival suits would not be overkill. obviously it's a balance between the minimalist approach and loading your boat with so much extra gear she sinks anyway...
I also think it's good advice to know how your boat performs in a big following sea. Deep V's tend to broach to less often (they don't shift sideways when surfing down a big swell), but you should be trying to match the speed of the swell anyway so you ride on the top as much as possible, sometimes even reversing engine if you start surfing too much. obviously this all takes practice.
I'd pay more attention to the wind than the swell, and with the swell, think about the period. the swell could be 10 meters but if it's on 15 second periods it won't be anything but a pleasant ride.
good luck and let us know how you go or if you want somebody to join you for some pointers. A 25-footer should be more than suitable for long offshore trips if you pick your day right and use your head

[Haji]

Hi HDJ

All good advice posted sofar. As to your boat I would have no worries about the BW handling trips out wide and having to come back in deteriorating conditions. The Boston Whalers are renowned as very safe and predictable offshore boats in the US where they regularly venture out a lot further than we do here.

Frank has hit the nail on the head with his comment that the boat can handle the sea but are you up to it? In other words do you have the experience to operate the boat in rough seas, if not then I agree with Frank and some of the other member's posts that you would be well advised to try to get an experienced crewman to join you on your offshore trips until you learn the ropes.

There is no way that anyone can ever hope to teach you how to react to unforeseen situations unless they are there with you and you get first hand experience. This probably sounds way to cautious for some of our bulletproof younger members but believe me, if you should be unlucky enough to suddenly encounter a rapidly deteriorating situation when 25 NM offshore after fighting a big fish for 6 or 7 hours and finding yourself a long way South (typically what happens when you fight a fish for a long time) it is nice to know that you have the experience on board to deal with whatever might be thrown at you.

Cheers and Good Luck!

[nimrod]

HJB. I hope none of this is putting you off in any way, all our talk about what could possibly happen, and all that.
You have asked our advise and we are telling it as it is.
99 % of the time you will go out and it will be pleasant and you will come back in without a worry in the world.
It's that 1 % that will bring you unstuck. And if it ever happens that you are out there and it gets so that your heart is in your throat and you feel scared and all of a sudden your 25 foot boat feels very small. The main thing is not to panic. And you should NOT try and get in as soon as possible. If the conditions get so bad that they scare you, and believe me it does happen.
You are much better off by simply keeping the motor going and very softly keeping the bow into the swell and waves, rather then trying to fight the conditions. Get as much weight to the centre of the boat and as low as possible. A boat that simply bobs up and down with the conditions will continue to do that, bub up and down.
If you try and beat the conditions but don't have the experience to handle the boat properly you could very easily flip it over.
Don't try and anchor the boat, the conditions won't last forever.
Even if worse comes to worse an you end up miles out to sea, it's better then the boat being on the ocean floor, or even upside down on top of the water.
It will never happen cause you will always come home before conditions get that bad. But just try and keep what I said in the back of your mind for if it ever does happen.
Frank

[storms72]

HA HA, Twas I Frank who started all on the HBJ track! Sorry HJB and as I the other member recommended and was supported by another get someone out there with you mate you wouldn't need to dangle any carrots just a beer or two for 1 member in particular (not me, haven't driven a large boat outside for over 10yrs) and I'm sure he will happily show you a thing or two!

[haydenj]

thanks for all the good advice.

HJB